The East Baton Rouge Parish Department of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) was founded as the first municipal third service EMS system in the State of Louisiana in August of 1982. At it's inception there was no advanced life support level pre-hospital care in the capital area.

EMS was initially supported by federal revenue sharing funds. In 1985 a tax election was held and the citizens voted for a 3 mil property tax dedicated to the funding of their EMS system. This was the first tax increase approved by the voters in over twenty years and came at a time of economic hardship in Louisiana. In 1986, the voters once again supported EMS by approving a telephone surcharge for the establishment and maintenance of an Enhanced - 911 system. Today this tax base is supplemented by a third party billing system and private donations.

Authority

EMS is the premier provider of pre-hospital emergency medical care in East Baton Rouge Parish. Parish ordinance designated EMS Paramedics as the highest medical authority outside of a health care institution (with provision for physicians to maintain control under certain circumstances).

Responsibility

It is the responsibility of the Department of EMS to provide a progressive and comprehensive system of pre-hospital care, education, and public awareness to the residents of East Baton Rouge Parish. EMS is responsible for coordinating the dispatch, movement, and communications of all emergency medical vehicles within the parish.